Would Andy Pettitte settle for Hiroki Kuroda money?
The Yankees’ offer to free-agent left-hander Andy Pettitte is or will be one year, $12 million, according to SI.com.
To which Pettitte might reply, “Is that all?”
The Dodgers signed free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda in November for those exact terms. And Kuroda, while an effective pitcher, is not as accomplished as Pettitte.
Kuroda, who turns 36 on Feb. 10, was 11-13 with a 3.39 ERA last season, working 196 1/3 innings.
Pettitte, who turns 39 on June 15, was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA, working only 129 innings in the regular season.
The difference in the respective ERAs of the two pitchers actually is deceptive; Pettitte pitched in a tougher home park than Kuroda and a tougher league.
He also performed well in both of his postseason starts, producing the same line — two runs allowed in seven innings — against both the Twins and Rangers.
The Yankees could argue that Pettitte was sidelined from July 20 to Sept. 17 with a strained left groin. But the Yankees hardly are in a position of leverage, given their rotation needs.
Here’s guessing that, if Pettitte indeed returns, $12 million won’t get it done.
— Ken Rosenthal
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Ken, shut the **** up. This isn't a question of leverage, this is a question of whether Pettitte will actually want to pitch. And the fact that Pettitte missed 2 months, does give the Yankees a reason to offer him a similar salary. He was a great pitcher, but not for the whole year. If he pitched a full season, then yes, perhaps he should be getting around $16 million. But he didn't, and that is why $12 million is a fair offer. The argument is moot anyways, because if Pettitte wants to pitch the Yankees will pay him lots of money regardless.
Just stop the BS posturing. -
I think they should pay andy 16 mil, based on what some of these other pitchers are getting.
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Andy is a great Yankee, but how can anyone think that 12 mil is a slap in the face in today's market. If one team overpays for a player it shouldn't set the bar. If Andy wants to pitch he will do it. It's really not about the money for him.
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I agree... Andy has been a great pitcher & a great yankee...We need him back for 2011... Make him a better deal & sign him... We need him on the pitching staff...
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andy is always expecting the yankees to offer him more money so i say to cashman that 12 million is more than enough. if andy doesn't acdept it then the hell with him.
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The Yanks have screwed Pettitte for a long time. First when he was dissed by King George when he wasn't paid what he was worth. So Andy took his pitching to Houston. Then they got him back for peanuts for the last few years. Without him they're screwed and they know it but they are gonna offer 12 mil for 1 year? Will they ever learn? Andy should stay home for anything less than 15 mil, especially with them paying that idiot Burnett 18 mil per year.
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Kenghis, the $11.75MM Andy made last year was not exactly "peanuts" for 129 IP.
